Sophia of Montferrat
Encyclopedia
Sophia of Montferrat (died 21 August 1434) was the second wife of John VIII Palaiologos
. She was briefly the senior Empress consort of the Byzantine Empire
.
and his second wife, Joanna of Bar. Joanna's parents were Robert I, Duke of Bar and Marie Valois, the latter a daughter of John II of France
and Bonne of Bohemia
. Also, through her father, Sophia was a relative of the reigning Byzantine
Palaiologi
dynasty.
. He was a son of Gian Galeazzo Visconti
, Duke of Milan and his second wife Caterina Visconti
. The marriage contract was eventually broken.
On 19 January 1421, Sophia was married to John VIII Palaiologos
. He was the eldest surviving son of Manuel II Palaiologos
and Helena Dragaš
. He was at the time co-ruler with his father. The marriage was recorded by both Doukas
and George Sphrantzes
in their respective chronicles. Sphrantzes records Hagia Sophia
as its location.
According to The Last Centuries of Byzantium 1261-1453 (1972) by J.M. Nicol, Manuel had send ambassadors to the Council of Constance
while seeking Papal permission for the marriage. The issue being the conversion of the Roman Catholic
bride to the Eastern Orthodox Church
. The permission was granted by Pope Martin V
.
Apparently although Sophia was a particularly pious individual, unfortunately for her marriage, she was also considered unattractive by the standards of her time, being described by Michael Doukas
as "Lent in front and Easter behind" . John VIII, not contented in his marriage, made every effort to avoid her, and, as a result, Sophia spent much of her time in Constantinople
isolated from her husband.
On 21 July 1425, Manuel II died and John VIII succeeded him. Sophia replaced her mother-in-law as senior Empress. However Doukas records the marriage to have ended in August 1426. Sophia never remarried and died eight years later.
John VIII Palaiologos
John VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus , was the penultimate reigning Byzantine Emperor, ruling from 1425 to 1448.-Life:John VIII Palaiologos was the eldest son of Manuel II Palaiologos and Helena Dragaš, the daughter of the Serbian prince Constantine Dragaš...
. She was briefly the senior Empress consort of the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
.
Family
Sophia Palaiologina was a daughter of Theodore II Palaiologos, Marquess of MontferratTheodore II, Marquess of Montferrat
-Life:He was the thirdborn son of John II of Montferrat and Isabel of Majorca. Theodore was named governor of the margraviate after the death of his brother John III. After the death of John II, Montferrat had been plunged into a crisis brought on by the quick succession of two young rulers,...
and his second wife, Joanna of Bar. Joanna's parents were Robert I, Duke of Bar and Marie Valois, the latter a daughter of John II of France
John II of France
John II , called John the Good , was the King of France from 1350 until his death. He was the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is perhaps best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive to England.The son of Philip VI and Joan the Lame,...
and Bonne of Bohemia
Bonne of Bohemia
Bonne of Luxemburg, Duchess of Normandy, Countess of Anjou and of Maine , was born Jutta , the daughter of John the Blind of Luxemburg, king of Bohemia and his first wife Elisabeth of Bohemia. She was the first wife of King John II of France; however, as her death occurred a year prior to his...
. Also, through her father, Sophia was a relative of the reigning Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
Palaiologi
Palaiologos
Palaiologos , often latinized as Palaeologus, was a Byzantine Greek noble family, which produced the last ruling dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. After the Fourth Crusade, members of the family fled to the neighboring Empire of Nicaea, where Michael VIII Palaiologos became co-emperor in 1259,...
dynasty.
Marriage
On 26 January 1404, Sophia was betrothed to Filippo Maria ViscontiFilippo Maria Visconti
Filippo Maria Visconti was ruler of Milan from 1412 to 1447.-Biography:Filippo Maria Visconti, who had become nominal ruler of Pavia in 1402, succeeded his assassinated brother Gian Maria Visconti as Duke of Milan in 1412. They were the sons of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Gian Maria's predecessor, by...
. He was a son of Gian Galeazzo Visconti
Gian Galeazzo Visconti
Gian Galeazzo Visconti , son of Galeazzo II Visconti and Bianca of Savoy, was the first Duke of Milan and ruled the late-medieval city just before the dawn of the Renaissance...
, Duke of Milan and his second wife Caterina Visconti
House of Visconti
Visconti is the family name of two important Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages. There are two distinct Visconti families: The first one in the Republic of Pisa in the mid twelfth century who achieved prominence first in Pisa, then in Sardinia where they became rulers of Gallura...
. The marriage contract was eventually broken.
On 19 January 1421, Sophia was married to John VIII Palaiologos
John VIII Palaiologos
John VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus , was the penultimate reigning Byzantine Emperor, ruling from 1425 to 1448.-Life:John VIII Palaiologos was the eldest son of Manuel II Palaiologos and Helena Dragaš, the daughter of the Serbian prince Constantine Dragaš...
. He was the eldest surviving son of Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425.-Life:...
and Helena Dragaš
Helena Dragaš
Helena Dragaš Helena was born to Constantine Dragaš of the noble House of Dejanović. Constantine was a Serbian provincial lord, ruling one of the principalities that emerged after the breakup of the Serbian Empire, centered at Velbăžd . Her mother was Constantine's unnamed first wife...
. He was at the time co-ruler with his father. The marriage was recorded by both Doukas
Doukas
Doukas, latinized as Ducas , from the Latin tile dux , is the name of a Byzantine Greek noble family, whose branches provided several notable generals and rulers to the Byzantine Empire...
and George Sphrantzes
George Sphrantzes
George Sphrantzes, also Phrantzes or Phrantza was a late Byzantine Greek historian. He was born in Constantinople. At an early age he became secretary to Manuel II Palaiologos; in 1432 protovestiarites; in 1446 prefect of Mistras, and subsequently great logothete...
in their respective chronicles. Sphrantzes records Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey...
as its location.
According to The Last Centuries of Byzantium 1261-1453 (1972) by J.M. Nicol, Manuel had send ambassadors to the Council of Constance
Council of Constance
The Council of Constance is the 15th ecumenical council recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, held from 1414 to 1418. The council ended the Three-Popes Controversy, by deposing or accepting the resignation of the remaining Papal claimants and electing Pope Martin V.The Council also condemned and...
while seeking Papal permission for the marriage. The issue being the conversion of the Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
bride to the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
. The permission was granted by Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V , born Odo Colonna, was Pope from 1417 to 1431. His election effectively ended the Western Schism .-Biography:...
.
Apparently although Sophia was a particularly pious individual, unfortunately for her marriage, she was also considered unattractive by the standards of her time, being described by Michael Doukas
Michael Doukas (historian)
Doukas was Byzantine historian who flourished under Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last Byzantine Emperor. He is one of the most important sources for the last decades and eventual fall of the Byzantine Empire to the Ottomans.-Life:...
as "Lent in front and Easter behind" . John VIII, not contented in his marriage, made every effort to avoid her, and, as a result, Sophia spent much of her time in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
isolated from her husband.
On 21 July 1425, Manuel II died and John VIII succeeded him. Sophia replaced her mother-in-law as senior Empress. However Doukas records the marriage to have ended in August 1426. Sophia never remarried and died eight years later.
Ancestry
Sources
- DoukasDoukasDoukas, latinized as Ducas , from the Latin tile dux , is the name of a Byzantine Greek noble family, whose branches provided several notable generals and rulers to the Byzantine Empire...
, Historia Bizantina - George SphrantzesGeorge SphrantzesGeorge Sphrantzes, also Phrantzes or Phrantza was a late Byzantine Greek historian. He was born in Constantinople. At an early age he became secretary to Manuel II Palaiologos; in 1432 protovestiarites; in 1446 prefect of Mistras, and subsequently great logothete...
, Chronicle - Nicol, D.M., The Last Centuries of Byzantium 1261-1453 (Cambridge University Press, 1993)
- Vasiliev, A.A., History of the Byzantine Empire, 324-1453 (University of Wisconsin Press, 1958)